Motherboard and CPU help...

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 06:18pm

I am thinking of getting a new MB and CPU but I want to know what is good but at a decent price.

First things first, for the MBs I know ASUS is pretty good but what about ASROCK and MSI. Are they good?

As for CPUs, are Semprons or Celerons good for gaming or are they a waste of money??

What decent MB and CPU can I get for up to $300CAD?

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-04-28 06:31pm

ASRock is, if I remember right, the budget arm of ASUS. They're okay for budget boards. MSI is okay. They're definitely better than the piece of shit brands like FIC or ECS.

You'll probably want an nForce4 chipset of some sort.

Intel isn't particularly cost-effective for gaming computers at this time. You'll definitely want an AMD chip.

Looks like $300 CAD translates roughly to $268 USD

ASUS A8N5X motherboard - $80 USD
Athlon 64 3200+ - $154 USD

Total: $234 USD = ~$256 CAD

Those are probably your best bet for parts to get, with some room to get a slightly fancier motherboard if you want some extra features. There's not really any better AMD processors within ~$50 USD of the 3200+, and the lowest-end dual-core chip (which I'm addressing because I'm sure someone's going to rush in here and start jerking off about how omfg you need a dual-core because it makes everything bettar) will run nearly $300 USD - which is a chunk of change more than $300 CAD.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-04-28 08:22pm

However, if you must have dual-core goodness, the Pentium D 805 is USD$129.50, or ~CAD$145. For most purposes, a single-core Athlon64 is better, but for heavy multitaskers the Pentium D might be a better bet.

EDIT: For an integrated system, you can't do much wrong with an Asus A8N-VM and the above Athlon64 3200+

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 10:01pm

Are Celerons and Semprons any good for gaming?

How's the quality of ASROCK?

Also, I have seen that Intel is cheaper than AMD when comparing similar CPUs.

EDIT: Is a JetWay motherboard any good?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-04-28 10:58pm

Enigma wrote:Are Celerons and Semprons any good for gaming?

Older games.

How's the quality of ASROCK?

Decent.

Also, I have seen that Intel is cheaper than AMD when comparing similar CPUs.

Some of Intel's processors are cheap, yes, but they're also slower than their AMD counterparts.

EDIT: Is a JetWay motherboard any good?

No.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:01pm

what about Athlon64?

EDIT: Hyper threading support? Good to have??

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-04-28 11:13pm

Enigma wrote:what about Athlon64?

Pretty good for gaming.

EDIT: Hyper threading support? Good to have??

Yes, though only available on Pentiums.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:15pm

phongn wrote:
Enigma wrote:what about Athlon64?
Pretty good for gaming.

EDIT: Hyper threading support? Good to have??
Yes, though only available on Pentiums.

Ahh.

Athlon64 good for gaming...

On the Intel side, what would be good for gaming?

EDIT: FOR AMD, is Hyper Transport the same as Hyper Threading?

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-04-28 11:18pm

HyperTransport is not the same thing as HyperThreading. Very different.

Higher-speed Pentium 4s (and, if you have the money, the "Extreme Editions" would be sufficient for games.)

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:22pm

phongn wrote:HyperTransport is not the same thing as HyperThreading. Very different.

Higher-speed Pentium 4s (and, if you have the money, the "Extreme Editions" would be sufficient for games.)

But that would go over budget.

Miles Teg · Post by **Miles Teg** » 2006-04-28 11:22pm

MSI is a very solid motherboard maker. I've built hundreds of machines with several different brands of board, and MSI has always been the best. I've occasionally been dumb an tried another brand because of a particular feature, and ended up replacing said board with an MSI. For instance, my last build I used an Abit AN8 Ultra for my X2. The abit has two major problems: 1.) It had compatability problems with my nVidia Card. and 2.) It blew a capacitor after only 2 months of use (even though the box proudly claims to be useing the highest quality of caps). Replaced with an MSI and no problems after 4 months of use.

My suggestion would be:

MSI Neo8-F S939 (nForce4): $75
An Athlon 64 to round out your budget (probably a 3200+ ($155) )

So total of $230 US

If you decide to go Intel, do NOT buy an Intel branded board. They are total shit. They are actually built by Foxconn, not Intel. Again, I would suggest an MSI.

Miles Teg

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:25pm

P4 "Prescott"chips any good?

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:26pm

Miles Teg wrote:<snip>

Thanks.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2006-04-28 11:33pm

Miles Teg wrote:If you decide to go Intel, do NOT buy an Intel branded board. They are total shit. They are actually built by Foxconn, not Intel. Again, I would suggest an MSI.

Intel server boards aren't Foxconn, though.

Enigma wrote:P4 "Prescott"chips any good?

Dude, start doing your own real research.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-28 11:38pm

phongn wrote:
Miles Teg wrote:If you decide to go Intel, do NOT buy an Intel branded board. They are total shit. They are actually built by Foxconn, not Intel. Again, I would suggest an MSI.
Intel server boards aren't Foxconn, though.

Enigma wrote:P4 "Prescott"chips any good?
Dude, start doing your own real research.

I have been looking all over the place and have been doing research. I am asking questions here hoping to cut down on time.

You have been really helpful and I appreciate it.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-04-29 04:40am

If you're hell-bent on super-heavy multitasking, you might see superior performance out of a Pentium D. If you are going to do nothing but multimedia encoding, a Pentium chip might give you slightly superior performance over an equivalent AMD chip. Otherwise, AMD really is superior in terms of what you get for your money.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-04-29 04:56am

Uraniun235 wrote:If you're hell-bent on super-heavy multitasking, you might see superior performance out of a Pentium D. If you are going to do nothing but multimedia encoding, a Pentium chip might give you slightly superior performance over an equivalent AMD chip. Otherwise, AMD really is superior in terms of what you get for your money.

Superheavy multitasking is not better on a Pentium D, nor is media encoding the Pentium Ds edge nowdays, AMD chips are just owning everywhere.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-04-29 04:58am

I meant in comparison to a 3200+, not in comparison to AMD dual-core (the latter of which is beyond his stated price-range).

DaveJB · Post by **DaveJB** » 2006-04-29 06:35am

If you do get a Pentium 4, make sure it's based on the Cedar Mill (6x1) core rather than the Prescott one (5xx or 6x0), as it runs FAR cooler.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-30 12:18am

Aaaaaahh!!! My brains are leaking through my anus!!!

So Pentium 4 (D?) Cedar Mill or an AMD Athlon 64 (or better) for gaming? Where as Celerons (D or whatever) and Semprons are useless for todays gaming needs?

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-04-30 12:24am

Enigma wrote:Aaaaaahh!!! My brains are leaking through my anus!!!

So Pentium 4 (D?) Cedar Mill or an AMD Athlon 64 (or better) for gaming? Where as Celerons (D or whatever) and Semprons are useless for todays gaming needs?

Athlon 64s >>> Pentium Ds, however, if you MUST get a Pentium D due to budgetry concerns, get a Ceder Mill.

Enigma · Post by **Enigma** » 2006-04-30 02:22pm

Ace Pace wrote:
Enigma wrote:Aaaaaahh!!! My brains are leaking through my anus!!!

So Pentium 4 (D?) Cedar Mill or an AMD Athlon 64 (or better) for gaming? Where as Celerons (D or whatever) and Semprons are useless for todays gaming needs?
Athlon 64s >>> Pentium Ds, however, if you MUST get a Pentium D due to budgetry concerns, get a Ceder Mill.

Ok. I was talking to a guy at a computer shop and he says that he prefers Pentium over Athlons due to stability and reliability issues. Saying that they burn out in 18 months or so.

Thanks for the help.

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-04-30 02:25pm

That guy is full of shit.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-04-30 02:27pm

Enigma wrote:
Ok. I was talking to a guy at a computer shop and he says that he prefers Pentium over Athlons due to stability and reliability issues. Saying that they burn out in 18 months or so.

Thanks for the help.

Welcome to stupidity heaven, please turn left for the Intel fanboys.

AMD had reliability problems...a good decade back. Today they are fine and are quite reliable, maybe if you were in the server sector you'd might care for Intels because of reliability but there is no reason not to get AMD.

Esspecially not when it saves your power bills.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-04-30 03:51pm

Funny how guys at computer shops don't like AMD. Of course when the last AMD you used was crap and you haven't touched them since, I guess that mentality is understandable.